James branson shaw



(No Model.)

J. B. SHAW.

KNITTING NEEDLE.

No. 453,513. Patented June 2,1891.

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JAMES BRANSON SHAlV, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF TlVO-THIRDS TO HENRY A. SHAIV AND JOSEPH H. SIIAIV, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

l. KNITTING-NEEDLE,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,513, dated Tune 2, 1891.

Application filed February 24, 1891. Serial No. 382,397- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES BRANSON SHAW, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Knitting-Needles, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to make a spring-beard knitting-needle in such a manner that the stitch or loop in the hook will not accidentally slip down onto the shank of the needle, the fresh thread,however, readily entering the hook, and the beard being guided and held against lateral displacement when subjected to the action of the presser.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved knittingneedle; and Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are side views showing the beard of the needle in different positions.

My improved needle is especially adapted for knitting-machines in which silk is used, such as machines for making silk underwear and hosiery; but it can be used on other machines as well.

A is the shank of the needle, which is swelled at B and split so as to form a narrow recess 1), which is adapted to receive the beard D, the latter being turned down from the shank of the needle, so as to form the hook at. The lower end of the beard is enlarged at (l and tapered both toward the hook and toward the lower end 6, and the beard is so set that the inner side of the projection d always rests in the recess 1) between the two cheeks c c of the swelled portion B of the shank when the beard is in its normal position, so that when a loop is in the hook, as shown in Fig. 2, it cannot accidentally drop down onto the shank, as in the ordinary bearded needle, in which the beard is normally open. At the same time the thread can readily be inserted into the hook from below, owing to the flaring of the portion Band the end of the beard D, as shown in Fig. 3, the beard having sufiicient spring to permit the free passage of the thread, as well as to permit the downward passage of the stitch under the action of the push-back. The recess 1) is of sufiicientdept-h to allow the beard to enter, so that the back of the beard will be on a line with the incline of the enlargement B, as shown in Fig. 4, when the presser IV is in action, so as to permit the stitch to rise smoothly over the point of the beard. In addition to. these advantages, the needle is strengthened at a point where the ordinary spring-beard needle is the weakest, and the presser cannot in any case deflect the beard laterally to one side or other of the shank, as frequently happens with the ordinary needle, the slot bin my improved needle acting as a guide for the beard when the latter is being pressed inward.

I claim as my invention 1. A spring-beard knitting-needle having a shank with a recess therein forming cheeks, and a beard having an enlargement on the inner side adapted to said recess, substantially as specified.

2. A spring-beard knitting-needle havinga shank with enlargement having a recess therein, and a beard having an enlargement on its inner side extending into said recess, substantially as set forth.

3. A spring-beard knitting-needle havinga shank with recess therein, a beard having an enlargement entering and guided by said recess, and a tapered lower end forming a flaring guide for the thread to pass under the beard, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES BRANSON SHAlV.

Witnesses:

EUGENE ELTERICH, HENRY HowsoN. 

